Mark Masonry.

pated . He should highly appreciatcthe honour of Steward at the festival of the Mark Benevolent Fund . Bro . Armstrong then gave " Tne Visiting Brethren , " coupled with Bros . Dr . Henry , D . ilrympl -, and Winter . Dr . Henry after thank'ng the W . M . for his handsome hospitality that day ; said that the Whitehaven Masons had hithc to been connected with Maryport , through the R . A . Chapter ; but now they hoped to open up a new connection in the Maik

Degree . Bro . Dalrymple wished the W . M . of Lodge 151 every success , and the way in which they had been entertained by Bro . Banks that day vvas worthy cf all praise * . The brethren nf Frizington would always look up to Whitwell Lodge as thc master spirit in Mark Masonry . The Tyler ' s toast then brought to a close decidedly the most successful meeting ever held in connection with Whitwell Lodge .

PLUMSTEAD . —Excelsior Lodge ( No . 226 ) . —Tuesday , the 18 th inst ., vvas a most important day for Mark Masonry and for Plumstead , the above lodge being on that day consecrated to the working of the Mark Degree , and Plumstead , for the first time in ils existence , having Mark Masonry hung like a jewel upon its besom . The consecration was held in the fire hall attached to Bro .

Garbttt ' s house , the Sir Robeit Pee ' , on Anglesea Hill , which is , and has teen for the past three years , the home for the military Masons of the district . Great preparations had been made , and the hall was very beat . tifully decorated with flags and flowers , much taste being displayed in the arrangements , which were carried out under thc able directions of Bros . Weston and Watkins . The

lodge was opened at two o ' clock p . m . by Bro . Fitzgerald Matier , who , in the unavoidable absence of Bro . Binckes , G . S ., filled the chair , having for his Wardens Bros . Dewar , A . G . S ., and Finch , onc of the Grand Officers of Kent . The following brethren were then advanced lo the Mark Degree , vii ., the Rev . C . A . Solbe , Bros . C . Jolly ( Freemason ) , H . Harding , H . Holley man , Capt . Eugene Sweny ,

J . J . Donnelly , G . Kmnedy , Watkins , Jas . MeCaffery , R . Cr isdale , Capon , Neil , Tappe-nelen . Dunn , Norman , Orcha d , Garbett , Hepburn , Kirkbridc , Wilson , J . A . Mason , Buckland , Hosegood , B aver , Tomkins , Fountain , Sharpe , Larder , Nicholls , Moulds , Gibson , t'dvvards , Anderson , and others . The beautiful ceremony was finely rendered by Bro . Maiier and his officers , and made aceep

impression upon the newly-advanced brethren . The ceremony of consecration followed , Bro . Matier werking in superb style , and most ably assisted by Bro . the Rev . R . Holden , the Grand Chaplain , whose impressive delivery and imposing manmr added much to the beauty of the consecration . A brief oration was delivered by Bro . the Rev . G . Wilson Sicklemore , M .. *"•., Pro i ic al Grand Maik

Master of Kent , and the usual feirmahties observed to the letter . Thc installation of the Worshipful Mas ' er followed , Bto . Matier filling the office of installing i . ffiecr , in which his fine declamation and effective elocution made a great ' . mpiession , and in due form Bro . Capt . Ritchie . P . G . M . J . W . Mid . and Surrey , was placed in the chair of A . and saluted in due form . The investiture of the officers was

then proceeded with , as follows : Bros . C . Coupland , S . W . ; Jos . Smyth , J . W . ; Rev . C . A . Solbe , Chap ; W . A . Weston , M .-J . ; A . Penfold , S . O . ; H . Shaw , J . O . ; G . Spinks , S . D . ; E . Palmer , J . D , ; D . De * eves , I . G . ; Capt . Eugene Sweny , R . of M . ; H . Harding , Org . ; H . Holleyman , Dir . of Cer . ; Capon , Steward ; Norman , Tyler ; and Bros . H . Pryce and G . Kennedy were elected as Treas . and Sec .

A vote of thanks to Bro . Ma'ier for his valuable services was carried by acclamation , and on the proposal of one of the brethren , he , together vvith Bros , the Rev . J . W . Sicklewood and Holder ., were elected honorary members of the lodge . Letters of regret at not being able to be present were read from Bros . I . oid Holmesdale , General Brownrigg , Colonel F . Burdett , and other distinguished Mark

Masons , and thc lodge was closed in due form . Among the distinguished brethren present were Bros . James Lewis Thomas , Hammerton , Brighten , Pye , Poore , and others . The banquet which followed was one ' of a very choice description ; the menu was excellent , and the Wines of the chcicest vintages , the table and banqueting room being beautifully decorated with flowers , and

presenting a grand appearance . The usual toasts followed , he first , proposed by the W . M ., being " The Queen and Mark Masonry , " followed by those of "Thc Grand Master , " " The Deputy Grand Master , and all the Grand Officers , Past and Present , " " The Provincial Grand Master for Kent , " & c . These toasts were responded to most enthusiastically , that of "The Grand Officers" being met by

Bro . Brighten , the Asst . G . S of Works , and Prov . G . S . for Middx . and Suney , who made a very telling speech on the subject of Mark Masonry . The toast of the evening , that of " The W . M . of the Excelsior Lodge , " was then proposed in glowing terms by Bro . Matier . He said : Brethren , it is one of the duties as well as one of the privileges of thc Consecrating Officer to propose to you " The Health of

your W . M ., " and I need hardly tell you that it is a task that I approach with much pleasure . Now that the good ship "Excelsior" has been launched upon the sea of Mark Masonry under such distinguished and auspicious circumstances , with a good and skilful captain , good officers , and a w illing and gallant crew of fifty menand I may safely say that I have never seena ship launched

upon that sea with so good a Master , officers , and men as this that I have assisted at to-day— may she go on her way and prosper is , I feel sure , thc prayer of us all . I can see that this lodge will be second to none holding their rank under the Grand Mark Lodge of England , and I feel sure that there is a great future before it . Now we know

that at all consecrations of lodges there is a great deal for the W . M . designate to do to get the lodge and its affairs in ship-shape fashion , and from the beautiful appearance of the lodge , its decoration , and the care evidently bestowed in having everything properly prepared for the . iremonies , it s lows us that he has v / orked hard and done

Mark Masonry.

well for our comfort and the successful carrying out of their grand and glorious enterprise . Then , brethren , let us thank him for carrying us through so well and so ably , and say in thc words of one of thc noblest of our poets : — " Tho' hushed the rude whirlwind that ruffled the deep , And skies if no longer dark tempests deform ;

When our perils are o ' er shall our gratitude sleep ? Nc ! here ' s to the pilot that weathered thc storm . " The toast vvas drank with enthusiasm , and in reply Bro . Ritchie said he begged to return them his grateful appreciation of all that had been said in his favour , and that he trusted as the Excelsior promised to be first in point of numbers , it would always be first among the

lodees in all its Masonic duties . The next toast was that of " The Installing and Consecrating Officer , Bro . Matier , " and in proposing it the W . M . said that were he to attempt to tell that brother how decj ly they were indebted to him for the valuable services rendered to them that day by him he should , he felt sure , make it a failure ; all that he could say was that to see the splendid manner in which Bro .

Mali- r bad advanced thirty-four initiates , consecrated the lodge , and then installed him into the chair , was nothing less than thc work of a giant among Mark Masonry , and would long be remembered by all who had the privilege of witnessing it . They had not done Bro . Matier enough honour by making him an honorary member , but now he would ask them to drink his health with "Three times

Three . " After the toast had been honoured , Bro . Matier , in the course of an eloquent reply , said hc should have thought they had had enough of his mclifluous voice that day . A great poet had said " modest men are dumb , " and he had he felt sure come almost to the end of his cable tow , so far as talking was concerned . He always had a great and enduring love for the Mark Degree ; it

was his first love , and through that love he had worked hard for the success of the degree . There were , as they knew , many magnificent charities in the Craft , the Boys' , the Girls' , and the Aged Men and Women ' s Institutions , doing good work in the cause of charity , and to night he was going to tell them of a charity in connection with the Mark Degree—he alluded to the Mark Benevolent Fund .

During the next month they would hold a festival for that Institution at ihe Alexandra Palace , at which their Grand Master would be present , and he hoped to see many of those assembled there that night present on that occa-ion . He concluded by saying that , he had to tell them their W . M . had consented to stand Steward for the year 1879 . The next toast was that of "The

Visitors , " coupled with the name of Bro . Dewar , who had come all the way from Cumberland to assist in his Mark Masonic duties and in the opening of that lodge . Bro . Dewar briefly antl suitably replied . Bros . C Jolly , R . Croisdale , and Eugene Sweny severally responded for"The Newly-advanced Brethren . " Bros . C . Coupland and Jas . Smythe icsponded for "The Officers . " The latter in a speech

replete with eloquence and elevated sentiments said : " W . M ., Officers , and brethren , I rise with much pleasure to respond to your very kind allusions to the officers of this , the Excelsior Lodge . It is indeed a most appropriate and excellent motto for Masons at large , and this lodge in particular . For , I would ask , What is Masonry ? Is it merely the meeting together of a number of brethren to

perform certain evolutions in a room appropriate for Masonic meetings ? Not so . I take it it has much loftier aims and ambitions . It is intended by its teachings and symbols to elevate the mind of man above its grosser state of animal . It appeals to the inner self , and draws us upwards to soar in regions above . Yes , •Excelsior , Excelsior ! ' higher still , until the loftier and grander our

aspirations become the nearer we get to the contemplation of inimitable truths , and thc knowledge of spiritual and divine objects . Now , it is a truth—not to be denied—that the teaching of all the arts has the same object , a diffusion of knowledge and the elevation of the human mind to a loftier status , but I would here state to my young brethren present , that , possessing as I do some slight

knowledge of , art , I must yet confess that a close study of Masonry in all its various degrees seems to me to afford a readier and swifter road to reach the promised ' goal than any other means within the grasp of the human mind . If this then be the case , what an incentive it ought to be to zeal and perseverance by the young brethren who have been raised to this beautiful degree to-day . I would here

beg to say , W . M . and brethren , particularly to those brethren of my old and respected lodge , The Florence Nightingale , it may appear somewhat strange that for manv years I had given up personal attendance at the lodge meetings . No doubt it has been remarked , spoken of , and animadverted upon from time to time , and doubtless my present appearance , and my high advocacy of the

elevating tendency of a close study of Masonry , may be the subject of surprise and question of old brother Masons around me to-night . The fear lest this should in any manner tend to throw any slur upon the Craft induces me to do , what has been left undone for many years , and what I must confess seems to me to be the proper moment to speak . Well , brethren , it was no loss of love or reverence

for Masonry pure and simple , but because of deep family afflictions . Englishmen , I am t-roud to say , take their punishment , whether in the shape of family afflictions , or other causes , silently , respectfully , and according to ability firmly . It is not our custom to carry on our sleeve for public inspection or curiosity the sharp strings of misfortune , let them be of whatever sort they may . Such a

reticence may be condemned , even while it is , and must be , respected . Thi- * , then , brethren , has been my course of action ; it has my own full approval , and I doubt not will at once remove any cloud or wonderings which may have been collecting for a long space of time in our Masonic hemisphere , and place us upon a footing of full accord and sympathy . It occurred to me to-day , during the consecration of our M . M . M . Lodge Excelsior , that this

Mark Masonry.

was the third consecration of Masonic lodges I had personally assisted , at Woolwich , viz .: 1 . The Florence Nightingale Craft Lodge ; 2 . The Florence Nightingale M . M . M . Lodge ; and 3 . The Excelsior Lodge of M . M . M . of to-day . This is a remarkable thing to occur to one individual , because many old Masons have never had the opportunity of even seeing , without assisting at , any single

consecration of a lodge ; but a yet more remarkable occurrence struck me , that at the period of the consecration of the first lodge , 1854 , and again at the period of the consecration of the lodge of to-day , England was on the eve of a war with Russia . I well remember Lord Panmure , the Secretary of State for War in 1854 , coming down from his office in London when deeply engaged in his

arrangements for tne army of the Crimea , and in right of his office as Deputy Grand Master , with his retinue of Grand Officers , consecrating the Florence Nightingale Craft Lodge at Woolwich . I am fearful , W . M ., I have trespassed upon the indulgence of yourself and the brethren in general , in what I certainly did not , at this late period of the evening , mean to be a speech , certainly not a long speech , and as

I believe another officer , one of my respected confreres , has to address you , I will conclude with my warmest thanks for your kindness and the indulgence accorded to me by the brethren at large . ( Loud applause . ) A special compliment was next deservedly paid to Bro . Weston for his efforts for the successful carrying out of the formation of the lodge in which he had undoubtedly , with Bro . Shaw and others '

done yeoman ' s service . Bro . Weston replied , assuring the brethren that his work had been a labour of love , and his reward was their approbation . The Tyler's toast then concluded a most important and successful gathering . The proceedings were enlivened by the efforts of a musical quartette , consisting of Miss Jessie Royd , Miss Kate Leopold , Bro . Steadman , 172 , and Bro . Tinney , 319 , Bro . Steadman directing .

Red Cross Of Constantine.

Red Cross of Constantine .

PORTSMOUTH—Naval and Military Conclave ( No . 35 ) . —The quarterly meeting was held in the Masonic Hall , on Friday , 21 st June . The N . P . S . Sir Knight G . A . Green was supported by the Int . Gen . and Dep . I . G . of the division , and the greater number of his

officers . Bro . John Cox , of the Royal Sussex Lodge , No . 342 , was unanimously approved of , entrusted , admitted , and installed a Knight of the Order . After the closing of the Conclave , Mount Olive Sane . R . H . S ., was opened in due form and ordinary business transacted . The Sanctury was formally sealed until the third Friday in September next .

Grand Chapter Of Prince Masons Of Ireland.

GRAND CHAPTER OF PRINCE MASONS OF IRELAND .

The Triennial Convocation of the Order of Prince Grand Rose Croix of Ireland ( which was adjourned unavoidably from April last ) , was held at thc Chapter Rooms , Freemasons' Hall . Dublin , on Wednesday , thc 19 th inst ., immediately after the conclusion of the Quarterly Meeting of

the Grand Chapter . The attendance of members of thc Order on the occasion was unusually large , the very beautiful room appropriated to the special use of chapters of this degree was filled to overflowing , the brethren wearing the full costume of the Rose Croix Degree , and all evidently anxious to manifest their respect and esteem for the beloved President , as

well as their sincere svmpathy with him in the heavy bereavement with which it has pleased T . G . A . O . T . U . so recently to afflict him . The regular business of Grand Chapter having concluded , the Hon . Judge Townsend , LL . D ., President of the Order , and Sovereign Grand Commander of the 33 for Ireland , presented his repoit as to the progress

and position of the Rose Croix Degree in Ireland , which was listened to with the most rapt attention . A warm vote of thanks having been presented to Judge Townsend for bis able and exhaustive report , and he having , in compliance with the unanimously expressed wish of Grand Chapter , consented to prepare same for publication , the convocation closed after partaking of the " loving

cup . " We hope at some future time to present our readers with an abstract of this report . The banquet which took place in the evening was attended by nearly 100 members , and at it an interesting c .-rcmony took place , viz ., that of presenting to the Hon . Judge Townsend , President of the Order , a very beautiful Prince Mason ' s ring , with the cross of the Order set in

precious stones . The desire to unite in this token of esteem was so great tbat it was found necessary to confine the subscriptions to the Grand Officers and the actual Sovereign of such of the subordinate chapters as representatives of the entire Order . The pleasing duty of making the

presentation devolved upon the Vice-President , Bro . E . J . Armstrong , D . L ., who was ably seconded by the Sovereigns of the senior and junior chapters present . The President ' s reply was one of his happiest efforts , and a more beautiful and effective address has seldom been heard in a Masonic assembly .

The Directors of the Bank of England met on Thurs day , and advanced the rate of discount from 2 J to 3 per cent . An interesting letter from Bro . Pike , U . S ., will appear in our next .

A meeting will be held in the Board room at Freemasons' Hall , on Friday next , July 5 th , at six o ' clock p . m ., "to institute measures for establishing a memorial to perpetuate the memory of Bro . R . "Wentworth Little amongst the brotherhood , for which he did so much and by whom he was so much esteemed . "